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How would you rate your overall experience flying with T1D (including airport security)? Share your experience in the comments!
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With doctor’s note in hand telling them everything, I still get the pat down and whipe! 🙄
No real problems.
I could possibly put everything from 1 to 5. I always get patted down and making sure my pump isn’t a bomb. Add to that a cat! Lol!
I said neutral sometimes it’s great. I breeze right through other times I have to go into the room and get searched. I just never know I always allow an extra 20 minutes or so just in case you would think by now they would know what an insulin pump is and a CGM, but it amazes me at times
I answered “neutral” Every airport is different. I have the Global Entry Pass which saves time (although as a woman, it takes more time for the patdown because they have to find a female TSA agent). I always insist on the pat down and will not expose my devices (pump and CGM) to the body scanner. Each airport has different tech. I’ve learned to carry at least 4x the number of infusion sets I need because one airport (formerly my home airport – San Diego Intl pulled the infusion set out.) Another airport was terrific (Mpls/St Paul). After waiting for the female agent, she came up and said I am gonna take a lot of time with you. When I asked why, she said her nephew was getting a pump and she wanted to learn how I liked it etc. That was cool. I tried to post on a T1d FB group a request for people to list airports that are great and (more importantly) those that are horrid. The post didn’t really go anywhere.
I have adjusted to requesting a pat down at each terminal of an airport. Annoying, but I have adjusted. What is interesting is how different the procedures are from airport to airport. Small international ones that have never seen a pump or CGM are the worst.
I cannot walk through the scanner due to a neurological implant, so I always receive a quick pat down. My TID supplies on me don’t cause problems. It doesn’t take long.
Twenty-Five (25) years in the Federal Aviation Administration as an Airworthiness Inspector and flying at least 3 flights a month. (At least 300 flights), never had any major problems with TSA security. The one real serious problem I had was when I was returning to LaGuardia from Amsterdam thru Chicago. I was stopped going thru security when their sniffer smelled Gun Power on my carry case. I was enrouting on an Atlas Air, B747 freighter with Munitions on board. I was only stopped for a few minutes when I showed them my Credentials and explained where I came from. MY Badge was bigger than theirs.
One of the first times I flew with my insulin pump, I told the two agents at security about it, and they both gave me clueless looks. They had to call their supervisor to ask for procedures. All they had to do was take my pump, swab it, and let me pass. It took more time for them to make those calls than it did for me to get through the gates! Other than that, I’ve had no issues
I was traveling through Amsterdam to Gabon Africa with 6 months worth of insulin. I was not made to feel uncomfortable, but was pulled aside by armed guards and had to wait for an inspector to show him my prescription.
It was a nightmare before I got TSA recheck. Sure it cost me $75 , but it was so worth it not to be treated like I was either carrying a bomb or was a bomb. When I first started on an insulin pump it was before 9/11 and I always got a major hassel. The first time after 9/11 it was almost impossible to get through security all the pat downs and having to take off my pump and the stabbing all my stuff and unloading my backpack with my snacks and T1D supplies took an hour. It was so embarrassing and scary for my kids. I got the TSA precheck and things have run smoothly except for the one time TSA recheck wasn’t open.
Some airport security is fabulous and I get right through. Others however are a bit of a nightmare.
I find it that now most agents are familiar with the pump.
I am TSA precheck, and what I do is disconnect the pump, put it in my pocket book to go through the xray machine.
No problems. I used to opt for manual checks but it takes too long.
Each airport is different. I’ve posted about this before but a Tampa TSA agent bullied me into going through the body scanner saying if I carried a cell phone, then I was exposing my pump to more X-rays than their machine. I was a newbie to pumping, I was alone, and no one was defending me although the other agents wouldn’t look at me. I now know cell phones are way different that imaging machines. That will NEVER happen again. I called TSA and they tried to tell me the same thing. I said: so you are telling me you know more about my medical device than my company? She said, well no but nothing has ever happened. I said: tell that to the young girl from Salt Lake City. This had just happened where her pump malfunctioned. The agent got quiet and said I had to do what I know best. So I ask for a public pat down now. They roll their eyes and say I have to wait for a female agent. One time I was so hassled that my normally low key husband came up and told them that this was enough and he wanted to talk to a supervisor. She said I caught them at a bad time between shifts. I now have pre TSA and I just got global entry. Hopefully PreTSA will continue to involve just the metal detector. Traveling next month. We shall see. What I don’t understand is why the pump companies are not advocating for us to ensure agents understand we cannot go through full body scanners. Or better yet, do the testing required to say it is OK or definitely not.
I’ve only had 1 bad experience with TSA security. Sarasota TSA supervisor would not allow a manual patdown nor metal detector. Only option was to miss departing flight or go through body scanner. I now am enrolled in TSA PreCheck and have had good experiences with security checkpoints (especially DTW). Awareness of CGM and insulin pumps has helped a lot. TSA seems to have done more training of their officers too. I’ve used TSA Cares once with excellent results. In-flight is not a problem as I carry fruit gummies and allowable food, plus flights always have regular soft drinks.
Sometimes I have had problems with security. Other times it has bee very easy. I think it depends on the training of the TSA staff at that particular airport.
Flying with T1D has its ups and downs. Overall, I’d rate the experience around 7/10. The actual flying part is usually manageable as long as I plan ahead — I keep low supplies, insulin, snacks, and my CGM or pump gear in my carry-on. But airport security can still be a wildcard. TSA agents aren’t always familiar with diabetes devices, so sometimes I get pulled aside for extra screening, especially with my insulin pump or CGM. I’ve learned to stay calm in Slope, explain clearly, and carry a doctor’s note just in case. One big tip: give yourself extra time and bring double the supplies you think you’ll need. Travel delays happen, but diabetes doesn’t wait.
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Flying with T1D definitely has its highs and lows. Overall, I’d give the experience about a 7/10. The flight itself is usually manageable as long as I plan ahead — I keep my insulin, low snacks, and CGM or pump supplies in my carry-on. However, airport security can be unpredictable. TSA agents aren’t always familiar with diabetes devices, so I sometimes get pulled aside for additional screening, especially because of my insulin pump or CGM.
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